As part of the academic exchange program between the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) and the Catholic University of Louvain-La-Neuve in Belgium, and following a proposal from the Pontifical School of Theology, Rev. Fr. Raymond Bassil, full-time faculty member at the School, participated in an academic mission from November 3 to 10, 2024.

During this mission, Fr. Raymond addressed several theological topics across various courses, as follows:

1. Patrology (Master’s level), Prof. Marie Pauliat:
A study of homiletic art among Syriac Fathers, focusing on the metrical homily Hymn to Love by Jacob of Serugh.

2. Islamo-Christian Relations in the Early Centuries of Islam, Prof. Mehdi Azaiez:
An analysis of the figure of Sophronius of Jerusalem (638 AD) through two historical texts:

• The Persian conquest of Jerusalem (614 AD)
• The Arab conquest of Jerusalem (634 AD)

3. Ethics, Religion, and Society, Prof. Stipe Odak: A presentation on popular religiosity in a multi-confessional context, using Lebanon as a case study.

4. Evangelization in a Secularized World, Prof. Ikenna Okpaleke:
A discussion on two documents by Catholic Patriarchs of the East:

• The Presence of Christians in the East: Witness and Mission (1992)
• Together Before God for the Good of the Person and Society (1994)

This analysis was enriched by two apostolic exhortations:

• A New Hope for Lebanon (1997)
• The Catholic Church in the Middle East: Communion and Witness (2012)

These interventions facilitated fruitful exchanges between faculty and students, fostering in-depth and stimulating discussions.